Pregnancy news: Tons of dangers, some benefits and ways to make it easier

Lots of things affect baby in womb

Women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant usually know a whole list of things it's a good idea to avoid while pregnant, including alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs and certain foods. But new studies show some more things moms-to-be need to worry about, some obvious, some less so.

It makes sense that being on meth while pregnant isn't a great idea (your kid is likely to have brain abnormalities that will cause developmental delays), but less obvious is the news that an epilepsy drug, valproate, prescribed for everything from migraines to psychiatric disorders, may lower a child's IQ when taken while pregnant.

Being exposed to Hong Kong flu prenatally can also interfere with brain development and reduce intelligence, while a low amount of vitamin D during pregnancy can increase the risk of a need for Caesarian delivery.

Canadian research suggests that getting too much folic acid, a nutrient we've long been told was essential to proper fetal development, may actually increase cancer risk in offspring (the research thus far has been done on rats).

And beyond supplements and drugs there are other dangers lurking for babies (and potential babies, for that matter). For instance, men who eat lots of meat and dairy have been found to have lower sperm quality than men who eat more fruit and vegetables, according to a Spanish study.

And short women in India were found to have children that were 70 percent more likely to die before age 5 than children born to taller mothers, which could be because short women (classified here as less than 57 inches tall, or 4 foot 9) may not be as healthy as taller women.

More trouble with obesity

We already know that being obese isn't great for anyone's health, and obese moms potentially have more complications than thinner moms when pregnant. Research from Texas shows that it can be more difficult for ultrasound technicians to see fetal abnormalities on the ultrasounds of overweight and obese women, as well as in those with diabetes.

An incorrect reading for a baby with a serious birth defect happened about once in every 250 births for normal weight women and one in 100 times for heavier women, making the screening about 20 percent less effective in heavier women.

And when it comes to prenatal obesity, many women don't see themselves as obese who really are, according to an Irish study. Scientists said 22 percent of women were incorrectly classified when self reporting was used to determine body mass index, with the average pregnant woman underestimating her BMI by about 5 percent.

Activities good for mother and child

While in the past women were encouraged to take it easy and eat for two while pregnant, you never hear either of those pieces of advice any more, and most women are told to get some exercise while they're gestating, but many don't follow it.

A study that's soon to be released shows that the most common reason moms-to-be say they don't exercise is lack of time, but 85 percent of those surveyed watched at least an hour of television or spent at least an hour on the computer and 77 percent spent the same amount of time writing, reading or studying.

Both body mass index and pre-pregnancy weight were lower in the women who exercised, and exercise levels were found to be higher in women who worked outside the home.

Getting a little movement in during labor also seems like a great idea, as a report from The Cochrane Collaboration found. The process of early labor seems to go more slowly when it's done lying down, but sitting, standing or walking around may make the process go more quickly and is perfectly safe. Women who moved a bit spent about an hour less in early labor on average than those who stayed in bed.

Finally, one thing you can do that has great benefits for both mother and child is breastfeeding. There's evidence that breastfeeding can help prevent obesity in children as well as asthma and some infections, and new research says that moms who breastfeed are 10 percent less likely to have heart disease or a heart attack or stroke than women who never breastfed.

Even breastfeeding for just a month could lower the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol in mothers, the report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology says.

(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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Pregnancy news: Tons of dangers, some benefits and ways to make it easier